Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged that an Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which killed dozens of Palestinians, was a "tragic mistake." The strike, which took place on the evening of May 26, 2024, has sparked international outrage and condemnation.
The incident occurred in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, where displaced civilians were seeking refuge in tents. The strike resulted in a fire that engulfed the camp, leaving at least 45 people dead, including women and children. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that the majority of the victims were civilians, with only a few Hamas officials being targeted.
Netanyahu expressed regret over the incident, stating, "A tragic mistake was made, and we are deeply saddened by the loss of innocent lives. We take full responsibility for this error and are committed to investigating the circumstances that led to this devastating event."
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the strike was based on "prior intelligence information regarding the presence of senior Hamas terrorists at the site." However, the IDF also admitted that an operational assessment of the target area had indicated that civilians would not be harmed in the strike.
This incident comes at a time when the war in Gaza has been ongoing for nearly eight months, with the death toll in Gaza nearing 36,000, according to estimates from the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry. The United Nations' highest court recently ordered Israel to stop its offensive in Rafah and open the Rafah border crossing to allow for humanitarian aid to enter the Palestinian enclave.
The international community has responded with shock and condemnation, with many world leaders calling for an immediate ceasefire and an independent investigation into the incident. The United States, a close ally of Israel, has also expressed concern over the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the international community is left grappling with the devastating consequences of a war that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. The "tragic mistake" in Rafah serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for peace and a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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